The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-24
THE PRESBYTERIANS
POSTPONE ACTION ON THE RE.
PORTS OF COMMITTEES
Looking to the Organization OF the
Churches North and south
The Provisions.

eifl Presbyterian Assembly this morn
ing the Committee on Organic Union,
Cooperative U lioH or Other Relations
with the Presbyterian Church Of the
Uhited States, DR.. Smoot, OF Texas,
chairman, presented three reports.
The committee is composed Of twenty
six members, sixteen Of whom made G
majority report, nine a minority re-
port, and one what he called a mini
mum minority report.
Tbs miro ,ity report says: 1--WE are
OF the opinion that the difficulties in
the way OF organic or cooperative
union are 80 numerous and OF so seri-
GUS nature that they cannot be re-
moved. They arise mainly out Of the
fact that the two churches are not
agreed in matters OF either principle
or policy. The plea that the two have
the came confession Of faith may be
fully met by the simple statement that
all evangelical denominations have the
same Protestant Bible, but the differ
ence in the one case, as in the other,
arises out Of the Interpretation OF the
teaching OF the two booke, 30 the sepa-
rate existence of the Southern church
Is as much demanded, because Of the
widely diffe rent Interpretation OF the
language OF the confession OF faith in
matters both of doctrine and govern
ment, as the separate existence of
other denominations of Christians is
demanded because they are not suffi-
GENTLY agreed in their essential
tenets to constitute one organic
body. No suggestion has been
made, or in the opinion OF those
signing this paper can be made for the
removal OF this most serious obstacle
which meets Us at the very opening
of this question. To unite or not TO
unite the churches on any compromise
of these fundamental difference, or
upon any general statement, such as
the reception of the standards "pure
and simple" would eerve only to
bring together those who could not
act in harmony, and would perpetuate
strife and alienation. These conclu-
sions have been reached by us after a
full and careful examination OF the
whole question in the light of all the
papers submitted for our consid Grafton.
The discussion of the question for
some time past, both North and South,
has made 1t equally manifest that the
further agitation of this question
would hinder the progress, weaken
the efficiency and endanger the unity
of our own church.
"The minimum minority report dis
cents from the position Of the m ejority
and says: Union Of the two great
bodies Of PresbyteriaDs would make
too large body and its entertainment
would be an intolerable burden on the
churches, where meetings should be
held. Union would produce dismem-
berment OF the Southern Church,
large numbers of influential members
of the latter body being opposed to
such an action. The assembly should
solicit expression from every presby-
terry before taking any action. A
messenger should not be sent out to
find wife for the body before 1t was
known the body wanted a wife,
The matter was then laid over until
tomorrow, when 1t will be considered
rs the special order Of the day.
A communication was received from
the American House of Bishops OF the
Episcopal Church with reference to
union of all Protestant churches, aud
expressing the hope that the unhappy
breach now existing between the vari-
GUS churches could be healed. The
declarations of 1853 and 1880, advo
eating Christian union against the
usurpation Of the Bishop of Rome,
were referred to. The communication
suggested the grounds of common be-
lief end practice among Protestant
churches. The matter was referred to
the Committee on Foreign Core
spondence to formulate a reply. The
Judicial Committee, through DR.. Rath-
erford, its chairman, presented q re-
port on the appeal Of the Rev. D. P.
Robinson from the Synod OF North
Carolina, and the complaint OF the
Presbytery of Mechlinburg against the
same synod, remandiDg the cases to
the Synod OF North Carolina. The
remandiDg was recommended, DR..
Rutherford ssid, in the hope that it
might be settled amicably by the Sy-
nod of North Carolina.